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'We are yet to see a plan' for fishing industry- Opposition Leader

- wants to know where new fishing complex will be located
The hurricane damaged BVI Fishing Complex facility at Ports Purcell will be demolished to allow expansion by the BVI Ports Authority. Photo: VINO
Opposition Leader Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8) has slammed the Andrew A. Fahie (R-1) led Government for its purported silence on plans for the fishing complex and the fishing industry. Photo: JTV
Opposition Leader Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8) has slammed the Andrew A. Fahie (R-1) led Government for its purported silence on plans for the fishing complex and the fishing industry. Photo: JTV
The current state of the BVI Fishing Complex at Port Purcell. Photo: VINO
The current state of the BVI Fishing Complex at Port Purcell. Photo: VINO
Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Dr The Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), during the budget debate in the House of Assembly on December 13, 2019, said a location had been identified for the new fishing complex but did not disclose where. Photo: VINO/File
Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Dr The Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), during the budget debate in the House of Assembly on December 13, 2019, said a location had been identified for the new fishing complex but did not disclose where. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Opposition Leader Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8) has criticised the Andrew A. Fahie (R1) led Government for not disclosing plans for the fishing industry in the Virgin Islands.

Hon Penn brought up the issue during a press conference at the Office of the House of Assembly Conference Room on Thursday, January 23, 2020.

He said Government announced plans in December 2019, to demolish the hurricane-battered fishing complex located in Baugher’s Bay on Tortola to facilitate an extension of the BVI Ports Authority facility at Port Purcell.

However, “You haven’t heard yet where the next fishing complex is going to be. Fishing is a very viable industry for this Territory.”

Hon Penn added, “We are yet to see a plan on how we are going to address the issue of fishing, and the issue of just growing food for food security in this territory. There is no holistic approach to the development of the agriculture industry.”

Location identified, but not revealed

Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture Dr The Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), during the budget debate in the House of Assembly on December 13, 2019, said a location had been identified for the new fishing complex.

He; however, did not reveal the proposed site.

“We have identified a location for the fishing complex so we can expect to see some forward movement on the Fishing Complex,” he said.

“I recently met the fisherpersons in Anegada. I know that they would be quite pleased to have a location because that’s very important for the development of their business,” he added.

The Minister stated that the fishing complex had to go to facilitate Port Purcell’s in keeping its certification that requires the facility to have a certain amount of space to operate.

Speaking at a community meeting at the Church of God of Prophecy on November 27, 2019, Dr Wheatley had said, “The Fisheries Complex has to be torn down because the Port has to expand to keep their certification because of course the bodies which accredit these ports require you to have a certain amount of space….It is important that we provide the Ports with the space to be able to expand which means the Fisheries Complex has to move.”

Dr Wheatley had also said the goal was for farmers to have convenient access to facilities for their catch.

“Facilities for landing our catches in the east, the west, central, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, Jost Van Dyke etc. that’s the vision and currently I am identifying sites to put fisheries complexes.”

11 Responses to “'We are yet to see a plan' for fishing industry- Opposition Leader”

  • one eye (24/01/2020, 08:20) Like (4) Dislike (11) Reply
    Vip stop playing around with marlon
  • Moonlight (24/01/2020, 08:48) Like (25) Dislike (6) Reply
    Wa the really kill me about the opposition they been in power 8 years didnt do much neglected soooooo many things but soon as a next party in power you all off a sudden could see and talk about the stuff u neglected so y didnt you fix it while you was their now???????????????????????????
    • Tortorlian (24/01/2020, 09:24) Like (22) Dislike (2) Reply
      MARLON THE EAST END FISHING PROJECT THAT NDP CAMPAIGN AGAINST MISS DANCIA PENN EIGHT YEARS AGO NOT ONE NAIL KNACK YET. NOW YOU TALKING PISS.
    • Well (24/01/2020, 09:50) Like (14) Dislike (1) Reply
      CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS MAN HIS PARTY RULE FOR EIGHT YEARS WHAT HE CAN SHOW US HE DID. WHAT THE COUNTRY NEED IS SOLUTIONS NOT SPITTIG OUT NEGATIVE THINGS.. PLEASE GIVE A PLAN FOR THE FISHING INDUSTRY


    • concerned citizen (24/01/2020, 09:54) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
      Really now, so what you saying 2 years plus and the fishing complex can't be fixed or relocated. Should it remain that way.

      I only eat fish and this Fishing Complex is missed greatly. Fishing is a booming industry and so is farming around the world. All talk and no action from both sides.

      Wasted money on green house with no penalties. You all were elected to fix problems and come up with new solutions.
  • lol (24/01/2020, 09:26) Like (33) Dislike (1) Reply
    This man panty tight all week!
  • any bets? (24/01/2020, 10:18) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    It will end up on the west end sand fill
  • in the know (24/01/2020, 11:53) Like (8) Dislike (1) Reply
    Ladies and Gentlemen of the BVI, time for solution. I agree that the NDP had 8 yrs, but now the we ii p have the government. An ideal place for the new Fishing Complex would have been the Red Bay area of East End, but I hear the NDP has already given away that land to other and the same man who balling now got piece of it himself. So we have to find another suitable place, like Duff's Bottom in the area of the old Fantasy Club.
  • Well Sah (24/01/2020, 15:05) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    we the people have not seen a plan to get back our $7.2 M for the plane, some $1.6 M for a wall and the illegal money taken from east end long look for sewerage ending in a $40 M over run

    Tell Marlon go TALKL THAT until then, wheel and come again!!!!
  • old (24/01/2020, 19:50) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Marlon you just wake up . You need to go and wash you face and come again.
  • Sleeper (26/01/2020, 09:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Is Hon. Penn still the representative of the Eighth District? The man does nothing in the district. I have not seen improvements in years. Time for him to go!


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